Bridge on Blackbird Station Road to cost $1 million

Saturday

Aug 5, 2017 at 8:25 AM

DelDOT received $275,000 in federal funds to help with the project. A portion of the road is scheduled to be closed for construction starting Monday, Aug. 7.

Staff Report

The Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) has received an award of $275,000 from the Federal Highway Administration pay for part of a $1 million project to replace of a deficient bridge in the Blackbird area.

DelDOT received the federal grant for using an innovative material, an ultra-high performance concrete overlay, for the bridge over Blackbird Creek on Blackbird Station Road, between Blackbird Forest Road and Grears Corner Road.

Zack Excavating Inc. of Smyrna was awarded the bid of $1,024,801, the lowest of five bids received, DelDOT said in a press release.

Construction to start Aug. 7

Construction on the project is scheduled to begin Monday, Aug. 7, with a full road closure on Blackbird Station Road between Grears Corner Road and Blackbird Forest Road.

Additional work will include minor reconstruction of the roadway approaches, installation of guardrails, and the placement of riprap in the stream to prevent erosion.

The project is scheduled to last 89 days which includes the advance work of clearing the site and relocating the utilities.

The road is scheduled to re-open by mid-September, depending on weather, DelDOT said.

Detour signs will be posted.

Carper, Coons and Blunt Rochester applaud project

"Making smart investments in the roads, highways and bridges that so many Delawareans use and depend on every day improves our local infrastructure and also saves taxpayer dollars in the long run," said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), who serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. "By using advanced technologies, we can build a more modern and more sustainable bridge that is stronger and will require fewer repairs in the years to come. The First State is leading the way by not just fixing the infrastructure of today, but by building the infrastructure of the future, and I'm pleased that the Federal Highway Administration is supporting our efforts."

U.S. Sen. Chris Coons said the grant is a result of DelDOT's efforts to use new technologies and employ advanced materials to improve Delaware's infrastructure.

"The use of ultra-high performance concrete for a bridge over Blackbird Creek is the kind of modern approaches the U.S. Department of Transportation wants states to be using as we work to upgrade our nation's infrastructure" said Coons.

U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester said, "Investing in new technologies in infrastructure is critical to the future of our country. I commend DelDOT for utilizing ultra-high performance concrete for the Blackbird Creek Bridge. This grant will help construct a high-quality, modernized bridge while incentivizing states to invest in the latest technologies on the market."